THE FIRST FRENCH EXPLORERS When Samuel de Champlain arrived in Ontario in 1615, the Hurons were at war with the Iroquois. The Neutrals of the Niagara region were on good terms with both sides although the presence of war parties from both nations must have made the situation a precarious one. Champlain led a war […]

First Explorers The first written mention of Niagara Falls was made by Jacques Cartier who left France in May of 15 35 on an exploration journey. Reaching the St. Lawrence River he named it after the Saint of the same name. Here he enquired of the Indians about the source of the river and was […]

NIAGARA EARLY INHABITANTS Man has probably been on the Niagara Frontier for 9,000 years. The earliest stone tools left by wandering hunters have been tentatively dated at 7000 B.C. Artifacts uncovered at River-haven on Grand Island and at Lewiston are believed to date from 1000 B.C. and 160 A.D. respectively. Although discoveries from pre-Christian time […]

Around Niagara Falls: The Historic Places The Village of Queenston is located 12 miles north of Niagara Falls. There once stood the barracks housing detachments of Butler’s famous Rangers who, along with their Indian allies, raided deep into New York State during the Revolutionary War. Here, too, lived the wealthy Robert Hamilton, master of the […]